Rocky movies Part I

 

The Rocky movies are one of the longest lasting series in movie history and possibly the longest franchise with a sports theme at its center.  The basic concept, that any person who is struggling can get an opportunity to make the most of themselves, resonates with audiences and their investment in the character and his loved ones has kept the franchise going.

Sylvester Stallone has had three other franchise characters by my count (Rambo, Escape Plan, and Expendables) but in the U.S. at least Rocky is the one people truly embrace as he embodies the best of us.  Rocky is a streetwise character with a good heart who is nice to everyone.  As Rocky Stallone goes sometimes goes to depths as an actor that he often stays away from in other roles.  As the writer on the series Stallone has used Rocky to comment on life and as a way to relate his experiences.  I've enjoyed Rocky so much that I often refuse to dump on Stallone when one of his other films do not work (ie The Specialist, Stop or My Mom Will shoot) and instead look for the strong points.  Due to the number of films I will look at the first four here and then the last two Rocky and first two Creed films in another post.

Spoilers below

Rocky (1976)

This film is successful due to the totality of the environment, created by John G. Avidsen and Stallone who was living in similar conditions.  Neither the character nor the film ever leave Philadelphia during a cold winter.  The characters are always bundled up and the film is shot in a blue and grey light.  The low budget adds to the raw feel of the film and as a viewer we are both engrossed in the characters' plight and eager to escape it.

The story of a local Philadelphia boxer who gets a rare shot to fight the heavyweight champion and make something of himself has an element of a fairy tale but feels authentic due to the way we get to know the characters involved.

Rocky is Stallone's most fully realized character, in large part because Rocky does not rely at all on Stallone's tough movie star persona, even though Rocky is as resilient as any of the other characters.  Rocky is emotionally vulnerable and good-willed, frustrated by his life but not cynical.  Rocky is just trying to survive but also has this desire to improve humanity in small ways.  

Talia Shire, who at the time was best known for her work as Connie Corleone in the first two Godfather movies, in which even scenes about her character rarely gave her center stage,  gets a wonderful character to develop.  Adrian starts off emotionally abused by her own brother but she sheds her skewed glasses and sweaters, and this beautiful person emerges and in turn gives Rocky the strength to accept the challenge to fight Apollo.  One of her best moments is when she stands up to a drunk Paulie who is threatening both she and Rocky with a baseball bat, she completely shatters him for constantly belittling her.  Even though Rocky could probably easily subdue Paulie, Adrian is the one who does so.  The one miss in that scene is when Rocky grabs Paulie after Adrian is done but has nothing to say.  The scene did not need it.

Rocky and Adrian's relationship is at the heart of the movie.  Two lonely people find each other and give each other strength to move forward.  It is fitting how after going through such an intense fight at the end, that Rocky only wants to see and hug Adrian.  The film is strengthened in that there is no stereotypical late second act scene in which Rocky and Adrian break up but then make up right before the fight, which is a trope in sports films (even the excellent Creed did this).  Once Adrian is in Rocky's life he feels better about himself and they make each other happier.  There is one quick moment where Rocky loses a little patience with Adrian but he quickly recognizes it and apologizes.

Burt Young is fantastic as Paulie, an often unsympathetic character who has also been beat down by the neighborhood but often takes it out by attacking Adrian who until she reaches her breaking point, is the one person who will not fight back.  Paulie has an oddball charm though and starting in Rocky III, ends up being used in a more comedic fashion.

Burgess Meredith plays Mickey, a crusty old boxer who runs the gym Rocky fights out of.  Mickey is to some degree an old version of Paulie, a fellow who never got his chance and behaves aggressively in part to keep the boxers in line but also to survive as an old man in a tough neighborhood.  One of the best scenes in the film is when Mickey comes to see Rocky, I think more to help him than looking for any kind of opportunity.  He wants to see Rocky make the most of his chance and knows that otherwise Rocky would probably just take a high profile pounding from Creed.  Rocky expresses his resentment of Mickey's treatment of him mostly without making eye contact and as Mickey walks away defeated the optimism of the story comes out when Rocky chases Mickey down the street.  Avildsen wisely shoots this from a distance and the point is made that Rocky is moving past his resentment and the two men are going to work together.  This decision, underscored by Conti's beautiful piano score as Rocky comes outside, turns it into a beautiful moment.

Carl Weathers has a lot of showmanship as the champion Apollo Creed, who based on Muhammad Ali.  He has excelled by having as much business savvy as boxing ability.  He plans to carry Rocky for three rounds and does not heed his trainer Duke's advice to take Rocky seriously.

Joe Spinell plays Tony Gazzo, a loan shark that Rocky works for.  Spinell gives what is usually a stereotypical gangster character a higher sense of decency, I think because he respects Rocky's integrity.  Gazzo's cheering for Rocky during the fight are some of the most heartwarming moments in the story.

The training scenes are, like the film more raw than in the sequel as Rocky, who although he starts the film strong, learns to train more like an elite athlete and gives up smoking.  Rocky gradually builds the endurance he will need to handle the fight by working closely with Mickey.  The fight itself is less bombastic than the sequels but pretty intense, with Rocky's shock first round knock down of Creed showing the world this is going to be a far different contest than what was expected.  

Bill Conti's score gives the film a lot of its heart with its piano and the inspiration trumpet themes.  I think Gonna Fly Now graces many running playlists as athletes look to find some of the same Rocky magic.  His score that plays over the immediate aftermath of the fight is the highlight for me as it sums up all of musical themes throughout the film.

Rocky won the Academy Award for Best Picture over All The President's Men, Bound for Glory, Taxi Driver, and Network.  I have seen all but Bound for Glory and they are excellent films but none have the heart of Rocky so I applaud the Academy.  ****

Rocky II (1979)   

Rocky II is a little overlooked in the series but I feel it is a better film than people might remember.    Stallone took over the direction as well as again scripting and playing Rocky.  He looks heavier (I think due to weight he gained for a role he played in between films) and his hair is longer so it is a notable contrast for the scenes set right after the first film.  

Rocky II explores the aftermath of the first fight but turns Creed into a strong antagonist (as opposed to just the opponent of the first film) who realistically has his pride wounded by the close match of the first film.  The film feels more contrived in that Creed goads Rocky back into the ring to repair his pride when in reality a more likely response is Creed might seek out an easier opponent to restore his credibility.  But we cannot have a Rocky film without a big fight and the Creed Balboa rivalry proves to be worthy of a second visit.  

The opening hospital scene contains some foreshadowing with Creed challenging Rocky but I do not buy that Creed would be eager for a rematch that quickly, especially after he later quietly admits to Rocky that he gave his best effort.  It would work better for Creed to gradually hit this point as a result of the public backlash.  

Stallone excels, in all three of his roles, in the moments where Rocky is dealing with sudden fame and  acting like a kid in a candy store, having made a big paycheck but wrongly thinking a career in commercials will sustain it, buying a house without really looking at it, a cool leather jacket and a flashy car which he cannot drive well.  I find the scenes uncomfortable as it is difficult for me to watch people behave self destructively with money.  Rocky has issues with the director of his first commercial which blows his income stream and he ignores the opportunity to work with an agent.  Some of these scenes are clearly inspired by Stallone's own experience after the release of Rocky.  However one of the pieces that does work is the scenes of the early moments of his marriage, though they do not seem to take a honeymoon.

Stallone should have included a scene in which Rocky and Mickey negotiate a big payday for the rematch as it appears getting out his financial hole plays a sizable role in him accepting the challenge by Apollo.  When Rocky starts to train for the rematch he has to do so without Adrian's blessing.  As such Stallone the director creates frustration in the viewer as we see Apollo training furiously and we know Rocky will have to go full out to have any chance.  The scene of Paulie verbally accosting Adrian is a little disturbing and causes her to go into premature labor.  The montage of Adrian in the coma is touching, as is Bill Conti's score, but it is unrealistic that Rocky would wait for what appears to be several days before seeing his child.  The score and blocking in the moment where Adrian wakes up does get me every time though, and Stallone does some of his best acting in the role when he patiently tells Adrian to sleep as long as she needs.

The moment where Adrian tells Rocky to "win" is a nice jolt that pushes Rocky into full training and leads to the  run through several neighborhoods in Philadelphia, with a lot of children following him scored to "Gonna Fly Now".  The number of children is perhaps exaggerated as it seems to be several hundred by the end but the message is that the entire city is behind Rocky.

For the third act, Stallone adds some fun touches like Rocky showing up late to the fight.  The new Bill Conti "Conquest" theme fills rounds 3 through 14 and show that both men take more punishment than in the first film.  Mickey's speed strategy does not seem to work too well (Rocky almost never avoids Creed's punches) but Rocky is as determined as ever and once he survives an onslaught in the first two rounds it is a more even match.  The close to the fight in which both men fall to the canvas and rise in slow motion is gripping and an effective metaphor for what Rocky has to do to rise from the ground to the top.  Ultimately Rocky II hits a few too many of the same beats as the first film but it is a very solid film.  ***

Rocky III (1982)

If I did not know otherwise I would assume that Stallone took over the direction of the series with this film instead of Rocky II, due to the big change in tone whereas Rocky II feels more like the original.  Rocky III has a lot of energy and starts off with a song, Eye of the Tiger, which is still considered a classic 40 years later, and a montage showing the newly minted champion defending his title ten times and enjoying a much nicer lifestyle.  We also see Mickey scouting a rising club fighter named Clubber Lang.  

There are a lot of terrific ideas in this film, which is inspired by Stallone's reaction to the fame Rocky brought him.  The most interesting motif is the idea of the image or brand of Rocky starts to overtake the man himself.  Rocky looks different with coiffed hair, he wears suits a lot more and speaks more clearly.  There is a scene in which Mickey and Rocky are sitting in front of an image of one of the fights and Rocky looks strikingly different from his old form.     

Another good touch is how we see Rocky's success through Paulie's eyes.  Paulie always brings a cynical perspective and his feeling left out instead of enjoying Rocky's success, and his giant mood swings, give the opening scenes some edge.

I am not sure what to make of the wrestling scene.  It is very entertaining but it is so unrealistic that Rocky would not be seriously hurt by being thrown around like that I just laugh at the Thunderlips antics and move on.  The moment where Rocky screams "Paulie, help!" is one of the best.

There is a real missed opportunity in which we do not get to see what drives Clubber, who makes a strong impression by Mr. T in his film debut.  Clubber is shown as an angry guy from a poor background who has worked his way up but resents that Rocky holds the title which I do not understand since Rocky also came from a tough neighborhood, which Clubber would presumably know.  Clubber spends the movie trying to bully Rocky which makes us hate him but also robs him of some complexity.  I will say despite this I think Clubber is the best opponent Rocky faces.  He is bigger than Rocky and looks fluid and fearsome in the ring.  

Also, Clubber's distaste for Apollo seems to come out of nowhere, although it sets the stage for Apollo retraining Rocky to regain the title.  There is a payoff when Clubber shoves Apollo right before the second fight but the staging right afterwards does not make it clear if Apollo or Rocky (or both) are going after Clubber in response.  I would think Apollo but again it is not clear.

The scene at the statue unveiling brings on some thoughts.  I think if Rocky was seriously thinking of retiring this might have been been revealed prior to this moment but it comes as a shock as he seems to be on top of the world.  Also, I do not like the way Clubber gets Rocky to fight, by publicly humiliating him.  Rocky has been proven to be far more resilient than to change his life plan because of a public taunt from someone he does not even seem to know.  Stallone also makes the mistake of cutting away from Clubber's speech, which might have explained some his motivation, to focus on Mickey and Rocky's exchange, which receives plenty of attention in the next scene.  Nonetheless as director, Stallone creates a lot of tension in the scene.

If you look at the story from Clubber's point of view, if Rocky retires there would be a fight to determine the next champion.  If Clubber is ranked number one, then he should be one of the contenders.  If Clubber's desire is to be champion, which he clearly says it is, then he would be better off waiting.

The choreography of both the Rocky and Clubber fights is terrific.  In the first fight Rocky is shaken over Mickey and seems to try for a quick knockout, which probably was not the plan, but it backfires on him badly because Clubber is much stronger.  In the second Rocky comes in leaner and mixes Apollo's stick and move strategy with his own punching power and manages to wear Clubber down and wins in three rounds instead of the usual fifteen.  Carl Weathers gives his best performance as Apollo in this film, training Rocky differently than Mickey but just as driven.  Apollo's joy at the fight and shadow boxing during it are great touches.  However I think both men should have been wearing headgear in the final scene.

The death of Mickey is sad and handled sensitively.  Mickey was if not like a father than perhaps a crusty old uncle to Rocky and Rocky has not even begun to imagine life without him, but is also seems Mickey kept his heart condition from Rocky, and the stress of preparing for another big fight was maybe more than he should be taking on.  It is hard to hear the dialogue during Mickey's death scene but the emotion is clear.  Rocky does not have the heart to tell Mickey he lost.

The scene in which Adrian forces Rocky to face his fears and sort out his confusion over the loss of Mickey delivers.  Often in the series Adrian is trying to keep Rocky from fighting and this is a refreshing change.  Adrian is fully on board and knows what Rocky is up against and helps get him in the right mindset for the task ahead.

The two training scenes are fun in their contrast.  In the first Rocky is enjoying the training as a brand, doing it publicly and stopping for pictures only occasionally making a strong effort while Clubber is going full out.  The second training montage is one of the series best and the change from the Philadelphia streets to the California beach and gym makes it feel fresh.  

Despite its flaws Rocky III has many terrific scenes and is one of the more rewatchable of the films.  While I am glad Stallone continued the series past this point if he had stopped here it would have worked too.  ****

Rocky IV (1985)

The events of Rocky IV have had the biggest impact on the series' ongoing storyline.  I remember when it was released the focus was a huge opponent who seemed to represent the might of the Soviet Union during one of the more tense periods of the Cold War.  Earlier that year Stallone portrayed John Rambo  in Rambo: First Blood Part II in which Rambo goes from the haunted veteran suffering from PTSD to a super strong badass soldier who goes back to Vietnam to fight North Vietnamese and Soviet soldiers.  The Soviets are portrayed as brutal and this approach is carried over to Rocky IV.  Initially the Soviet boxing team is proud to introduce Drago but once tensions surface in the lead up to the fight with Apollo, their true nature comes into play.

The main issue with this film is the characters get lost in the East vs. West motif of the story.  The opening shots are of American and Soviet themed gloves racing toward each other.  The first half sets up a seemingly unbeatable opponent who with immense power kills Apollo Creed during an exhibition bout.  The only one who can defeat Drago is Rocky, who has Stallone's bulked up physique from the Rambo film this time.  Rocky, after his harshest training ever is able to take a similar amount of punishment but overcomes Drago and defeats him.  Rocky's exact motive for fighting Drago is never articulated other than he seems to feel some guilt and needs to set things right.

I never understood what drove Stallone to make the film other than a big paycheck since he does not do any groundbreaking character work with Rocky this time.  The film is often considered the MTV version of Rocky since it has four montages (Rocky films usually have two) and uses a lot of quick  cuts, freeze frames and sound effects between scenes that are more flashy than needed.  There is a robot in a lot of the scenes in the Balboa household which is funny but out of place in this franchise.  

Carl Weathers as always is entertaining as Apollo, desperate to still be relevant and seeing the opportunity to fight Drago as a way to do so.  However how he feels his over the hill fighter can easily defeat such a huge opponent is a mystery to me as we never see him train or discuss a strategy.  I always found it interesting that Ludmilla, Drago's wife, played by Brigette Nielsen, spoke so much for her husband until I realized Stallone may have given some of Drago's lines to her since he later married her.  Dolph Lundgren is an incredible presence as Drago, but does not get a chance to show much personality.

The film has some good moments.  The scene in which Rocky and Apollo watch their fight from Rocky II and discuss their mortality is good.  Rocky's reluctance to throw in the towel when Apollo is killed gives the scene an extra layer than if it were just a tragedy.  Apollo's wife's inability to reach her dying husband is a quickly flashed over detail that I find heartbreaking.  There is a scene in which Adrian is ambushed by reporters in her driveway and as director Stallone captures her desire to get away, and makes a statement about how celebrities have so little privacy.  The scene in which Rocky explains his philosophy of perseverance to his son is inspirational and one of the few quiet moments in the film.  I will admit to once contemplating a big life decision while bike riding at night listening to No Easy Way Out.  Afterwards I had a lot of clarity and made what proved to be the right call.  The training sequences, especially the second one, are exciting and show the contrasting styles of both fighters though I would expect the American to train indoors and the Soviet to train in the winter.  It does go a little too far when Rocky climbs a mountain.

The fight itself delivers the excitement though I think Stallone lets Rocky take too much abuse in the first two rounds.  The end of the second round in which Rocky finally lands a blow that cuts Drago is an adrenaline bursting moment that builds when the whole thing turns into a melee for a moment.  The political speech Rocky makes after the fight with Gorbachev standing is absurd.  

Composer Vince DiCola's synthesized music fits this style better than Bill Conti but overall it is like much of the film, too flashy.  Overall I will give Rocky IV three stars but it is a little too excessive.  ***

Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago The Ultimate Director's Cut (2021)

Stallone decided to spend some of his time during the pandemic re-editing Rocky IV and bringing his old friend, director John Herzfeld, to document the process, much of which he uploaded on social media.  The newly cut film was released for one night in cinemas and I went to see it.  

By and large it is the same story and I think overall, a minor improvement.  Among the changes for the better are:

• Drago is given more agency in the story and his resistance to being treated as a piece of Soviet propaganda is established more fully, whereas when he grabs his manager in the original cut it seemed to come out of nowhere.  
• In the first act there are more brief scenes including Apollo and Adrian that establish both his cause and her concern.  
• The flashbacks in the No Easy Way Out montage are in black and white which establishes them as in the distant past.  
• A speech Rocky gives to Adrian about the nature of combat has been moved to a voiceover right before the training.  
• Most notably the speech Rocky gives at the conclusion has more heart.  When Rocky mentions that Apollo died, Drago reacts with regret and Stallone seemed to pick a different take of Rocky's line "Everybody can change" where he delivers it more quietly.  Rocky has a fist bump with Drago as he walks out of the ring which feels much better, as he has forgiven Drago and Drago probably regrets killing a man for the Soviet Union.  The Soviet Politburo walks out instead of applauding. The use of Eye of the Tiger, showing both men, moving past their issues, is more fitting than the triumphant Hearts on Fire.

A neutral change is Stallone cut out all the scenes with the robot, which largely removes Rocky Jr. from the film except for the scene referenced above, which is a little longer.  This has the unfortunate effect of keeping Rocky Jr. from watching the final fight with Drago on TV, which had kept him connected to the action, and his dad since in the old cut the robot can be scene in the background. 

Some changes I think that do not think are improvements are:

• A speech Rocky gives to Adrian about the nature of combat has been moved to a voiceover right before the training.  It worked better as part him speaking to her but perhaps Stallone moved it so he would leave the house wounded instead of feeling a sense of purpose.
• Stallone adds a scene of Adrian begging Rocky not to leave which is not very well acted and not necessary.  It makes Adrian seem desperate which she never is and Rocky cruel for leaving her.
• Ludmilla is barely in the film at all, I think because Nielsen is now Stallone's ex-wife.
• There is one line Rocky has that seems to have been dubbed in now, notable because the timber of Stallone's voice has changed. 

Interestingly the film starts with several minutes of Rocky and Apollo from Rocky III, I think to both establish their friendship and pad out the running time since the film might have been too short without it.

In the end overall I like the new cut a little better.  I wish there were more scenes of Apollo's wife but by and large it is an improvement.  ***